[RickC]

You ought to get some expert advice I'm afraind. And I'm no expert, just older & with 3 kids.

I'm pretty sure:

Your wife can get your Social Security benefits during retirement.

If you have kids, your wife/minor kids can get Social Security benefits immediately.

I have enough insurance to keep my family's life more or less financially unchanged through to retirement. First got term (the kind that expires after a certain point.) Now I have some through work. If I took another job, would need to reevaluate. I'm 37 with 3 kids. Oldest one is entering college this fall; youngest is 20 months!!!

Idea of the cheaper term insurance is that you can likely lower the insurance amount as you grow older, college is paid for, and your retirement plans grow. At retirement, when prices go sky high, you can get rid of it because (ideally) you don't need to save/find any more money (i.e., save all you can through the years!!!)